Metallurgical apparatus



Nov. 2, 1965 w. A. voe'r METALLURGICAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1953 Fig. 1

l l i/liam A. Voy/ IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,215,425 METALLURGICAL APPARATUS William A. Vogt, Concord, Califi, assignor to Kaiser Industries Corporation, a corporation of Nevada Filed Dec. 28, 1953, Ser. No. 400,480 17 Claims. (Cl. 266-35) This invention relates to sealing devices and more spec-ifically to the provision of apparatus for the confining of gases evolved as a result of oxidation processes.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a seal which may be quickly and easily applied and which may be just as readily removed in order that the operation of associated equipment may proceed with a minimum of interference and delay.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sealing ring or closure which will withstand the relatively high temperatures to which it is subjected.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a seal adapted to cool the gases passing therethrough.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a device as described adapted to be maintained in a po sition of retracted alignment, coplanar with its closed or sealing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sealing device adapted to exert a clamping effect upon the equipment which it is intended to seal.

In some metallurgical operations, a molten mass of metal is treated with a blast of air or-other oxygen-providing gas to remove impurities. As a specific example of this, in the Bessemer process of steel making, molten iron from a blast furnace is poured into a Bessemer converter while it is tilted to one side from a vertical position. Before being turned upright, air under pressure, has been, by previous practice, introduced into the converter or vessel, the oxygen of the air combining with the carbon in the iron, generating gases which ordinarily are blown into the atmosphere and are dissipated. Instead of air, other oxygen-providing gases, such as oxygen or oxygenenriched air, can be used.

Under certain conditions of operation, it becomes extremely desirable to prevent the escape of these gases or fumes. A duct is therefore provided to withdraw and conserve these gases or fumes for such further treatment as may be desired. This duct is fixedly located, while the converter must be left free to pivot or tilt during certain phases of its operational cycle. According to the present invention, a sealing device is also provided to engage the duct and the neck of the converter and to confine the gases during the blowing period, when the converter is in alignment With the duct. That is, the sealing device maintains the gases issuing from the converter out of contact with air and conducts them to the duct which withdraws the gases, which may be dust-laden, to the desired location. The sealing device is adapted to ready removal when the vessel is to be tilted for discharging and reloading.

The method of accomplishing the above objects will become apparent during the course of the following description and appended claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the sealing device in its retracted position shown in its relative location with a converter or vessel and its associated gas discharge duct, parts of the elements being indicated in section.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown on FIG- URE 1, the discharge duct not being indicated.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of a converter and gas discharge duct showing the sealing device in its closed or clamping position.

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FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

A vessel 11 of the general Bessemer converter-type is shown pivotally mounted by means of trunnions 12 supported by pedestals 13 in the conventional manner, the vessel being indicated in the upright or blowing position. It will be noted that the lip 14 of the opening 15, at the top of the vessel, forms a ring concentric with and perpendicular to the vertical median line of the converter. In other words, the opening, or pouring and blowing aperture, 15 of converter 11 has an annular lip concentric with the vertical axis of the converter in blowing position. The vessel or converter is suitably lined with refractory in the known manner. An oxygen-providing gas is introduced from above by a suitable tube passing down through the aperture of the vessel 11 and through the space between the vessel and duct in the conventional manner and is not shown.

Encircling the upper end of the vessel 11, and being concentric therewith, is an annular sealing ring 16 having a radially extending upper face 17 which slopes slightly downward for a portion of its width, and then continues down as at 18, but more abruptly, forming the upper part of the ring 16 of double frusto-conical configuration. The outer and more downwardly sloping face 18 is adapted to form a seal as will be further described below. The remaining and lowed portion of the ring 16 is in the form of a depending skirt 19 with diverging sides complementary to the contiguous outer surface of the vessel 11, to which it is fixedly attached by riveting or other suitable means. Expressed inanother manner, ring 16 fits around the upper portion of the side Wall of converter 11 adjacent annular lip 14 and extends downwardly over the outer surface of the converter, the skirt of the ring resting in sealing relationship on such outer surface.

Coaxial with the vessel 11, when it is in its vertical position, and located a relatively short distance above the opening 15, is a refractory lined duct 20 of circular transverse section adapted to receive the gases generated during the blowing period. The duct 20 may be supported from above in any suitable manner. A sealing ring 21, encircles the lower open end of the duct 11, being attached thereto in a manner similar to the fastening of the ring 16, and having a concentric sloping face 22 which is in symmetry with the face 18 with reference to both the vertical center line of the vessel in upright position and the horizontal plane bisecting the space -intermediate these confronting faces. I

The space between the vessel 11 and the duct 20-is pro vided to allow the vessel to pivot on the trunnions 12 without interference. In order to maintain the gases issuing from the converter out of contact with the air or atmosphere and to conserve their constituents, the above-mentioned space is enclosed in such a manner as to be gastight and also to enable handling gases at high temperatures and containing finely divided particles. To this end, therefore, a sealing member or enclosing shell assembly or hood 23 is provided which detachably abuts the vessel aperture,i.e. at lip14, and the duct 20 described below and which is constructed in two sections. This sealing member is in the general form of a relatively short, open ended cylinder or tube, separated into two equal semi-cylindrical parts on a vertical medianvplane, the two parts being adapted to horizontal motion, or substantially linear movement or substantially horizontal movement having their confronting faces 24 in contact in the closed or blowing position, and being spaced apart, equidistant from the vertical center lineof the vessel in the retracted or vessel loading and discharging position. A recess 25 has been provided in the inner wall of'the negligible amount.

sealing member 23 for the reception of a refractory lining 26. The upper and lower inner edges of the sealing member 23 are beveled to form sealing faces 27 and 28 complementary to, and adapted to cooperate with faces 22 and 18 respectively, thereby forming a tight seal which confines the space between the opening of the vessel 11 and the entrance to theduct 20. The abutting surfaces 24 of the sections of the sealing member 23 are provided with mating tongues and grooves 29 and 30 respectively. It will be apparent, from the foregoing, that when the two sections of the sealing member are forced tightly together in clamping relationship, escape of the generated gases to the atmosphere at this point will be effectively precluded, this being especially true in view of the fact that the difference in pressure between the inside and the outside of the sealing member is relatively small.

A preferred embodiment of the sealing member 23 has been disclosed in the form of a casting, although it will be apparent that this member could be fabricated and manufactured as a weldment to serve the purpose equally as well. On the outer wall of the sealing member, encircling ribs 31 have been provided to add structural stability and rigidity to the device, and also to minimize the cooling efifect of the surrounding atmosphere when the device is in the retracted position.

Interconnected cored passages 32, within the wall of the sealing member, are in communication with a source of water supply 33 and a discharge pipe 34, whereby a continuous circulation of cooling Water may be maintained during the blowing period to effect a more uniform temperature of the sealing device. All pipe connections to the sealing member are, of course, of the flexible type in order that they may not obstruct the free motion of the two sections.

It is an established fact that the life of refractory linings can be materially increased by controlling the extremes of temperatures to which they are exposed within a relatively narrow range. In some cases this is imperative, for instance in the use of silica brick. While this material has great strength at high temperature, this temperature must be maintained because each time cooling takes place, serious cracking and spalling results. In the present situation there are three separate conditions to be considered. The vessel itself contains molten metal during the major portion of each cycle, and also heat retaining characteristics inherent in the design of an almost completely enclosed interior, and the relatively large volume of hot gases being discharged from the mouth of the vessel, all contribute to the maintaining in the converter of a more or less uniform temperature of a relatively high degree. Conditions in the duct are similar in nature with reference to uniform temperatures, although these temperatures are not so high and become progressively less at points more remote from the vessel. It should be noted in this connection that the gases are moved under an induced draft, and during the period that the entrance to the duct is open to the atmosphere, this draft will be controlled to preclude the entrance of air except for a From the foregoing it will be apparent that the maintaining of relatively uniform temperatures in both the vessel and the discharge duct does not require any special provisions to be made. The sealing ring, however, presents an entirely different problem.

While the sealing member is in the closed position during the blowing period, it is in physical contact with both the hot vessel and the discharge duct, and its inner walls are subjected to the heat of the gases passing therethrough. Conversely, when the sections of the sealing member are in the retracted position, they are no longer in contact with any source of heat, but rather, are subjected to the cooling effect of the surrounding atmosphere. Under these conditions, the sealing member could be subjected to fluctuations of temperature, which, if not controlled, would be extremely detrimental to the life of the refractory lining.

With reference to FIGURE 3 it will be noted that, in the closed position of the sealing member 23, the inner surface of the refractory lining 26 is offset outwardly relative to the inner edge 35 of the opening 15 in the vessel, increasing the cross-sectional area at that point over that of the opening 15. It will be further noted that the refractory linings of the vessel, the sealing member and the duct, are in such juxtaposition as to create annular passage 36 and 37 which are provided to form steam generating zones. These steam generating zones are closed at their outer extremities by the relatively narrow, vertical inner surfaces 38 and 39 of the sealing member, which are bounded by the sealing surfaces 27 and 28 respectively and the adjacent shoulders formed by the refractory-holding groove 25. A plurality of apertures 40 are provided around the surfaces 38 and 39, these apertures being in communication with cored ports or passageways 41 in the member 23, which in turn are connected to a source of water supply 42.

During the vessel blowing period the sections of the sealing member are held tightly together, and in sealing and clamping contact with the vessel 11 and the duct 20 by means of pressure exerted by fluid-controlled cylinders 43 of conventional type, it being understood of course that other mechanical means, such as racks and pinions, could be used to attain the same results. The sections of the sealing member 23 are provided wtih flanged wheels 44 adapted to roll on tracks 45, straddling the vessel 11, and cooperating therewith to maintain the alignment of the said sections in their respective positions. The weight of the sections, tracks and operating mechanism is supported by suitable structural members such as has been indicated by 46.

With reference to the necessity for maintaining a more uniform temperature in the sealing member, there are two alternatives. An attempt can be made to maintain the temperature at a relatively high level or provisions can be made to reduce the temperature and secure more uniform conditions at a lower temperature range. Any attempt to strike an average between these conditions would require a prohibitive amount of additional equipment, and additional complications would be introduced. It is the object of the present invention to maintain the temperature range of the sealing'device at the lower level by water cooling, and further, by creating a protective zone of relatively cool steam between the refractory wall and the body of hot gases passing through the seal.

With the sealing mechanism in the closed position, and the hot gases passing therethrough, heat absorbed by the ring is dissipated by means of the cooling water circulating through the passageways 32.

Transfer of heat from the evolved gases to the interior walls of the sealing member is greatly retarded by the novel arrangement and relative positions of the refractory linings. Water under pressure is sprayed through the apertures 40 into the steam generating zones 36 and 37. This spray is immediately vaporized by the heat of the interior of the ring, and as the change of state is an endothermic process, heat that would otherwise be absorbed by the sealing member walls, is accounted for in the latent heat of evaporation. As the pressure inside the sealing device differs only slightly from that of the surrounding atmosphere, steam is generated at a relatively low temperature, and the body of steam generated in the zone 37 passes upwardly over the sealing member walls, in contact therewith, occupying the outer space provided by the additional cross-sectional area of the interior of the ring over that of the opening 15 of the vessel. In effect, a protective film or blanket of relatively cool steam is formed which surrounds the inner current of hot gases and protects the refractory lining 26 of the sealing member from direct contact with the said gases. Any tendency of the gases and steam to intermingle in the short distance through the seal is minimized by the further action of steam from the upper zone 36. The sealing surfaces 22 and 27 and 18 and 28 being located adjacent the most remote corners of the zones 39 and 40 respectively, are adequately protected from the intense heat of the interior of the vessel and the generated gases. It will be readily apparent that with this arrangement a minimum of heat will be absorbed during the blowing period.

With the sealing member sections in the retracted position, the cooling water supply can be controlled or entirely shut ofi, and asthis position of the sealing member sections is only maintained for a relatively short period of time, the majority of the heat, absorbed by the sections, will be retained. The relatively wide ribs 31, extending outwardly from the sealing member, are adapted to shield the outer surface of said member from the cooling effect of the surrounding air, and thereby contribute to the maintaining of the more uniform temperature range as above described.

With reference to FIGURE 4, a fragmentary view of the sealing member has been delineated and discloses a spring mounting for the wheels 44. A stub shaft 47, to receive the Wheel 44, extends from a block 48 which is adapted for vertical movement within a guide 49. Each block 48 is cushioned by a helical spring 50, the relative location of the various parts and the compressive strength of the springs 50 being such as to maintain the alignment of the sealing members with the vessel and the duct. Any slight misalignment that may occur, for instance, vertically, between the seal ring and the vessel and duct, will be compensated for by movement of the blocks 48 within the guides 49, brought about by the tendency of the beveled sealing surfaces to automatically seat themselves.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided a positive means of controlling the discharge of gases from vessels of the type described and while there is above disclosed a preferred embodiment of my device, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for recovery of gases including a converter wherein hot gases are generated having an aperture for escape of said gases, a refractory-lined duct spaced apart from said converter adjacent said aperture and having an opening adapted to receive said gases, a sealing ring disposed about said aperture and a second sealing ring disposed about said opening, means for providing a gas-tight passage for said fumes between said vessel and said duct in sealing relationship with said rings which comprises a cylindrical sealing member composed of two abutting semi-cylindrical sections, each of said sections being mounted for movement into and out of sealing relationship with said sealing rings and comprising a semicylindrical wall having a refractory-receiving recess on the inner face of said wall, refractory lining disposed within said recess, and a plurality of conduits disposed in the upper portion and in the lower portion of each said semi-cylindrical Wall and having ports therein debouching at the interior surface of said wall and adapted to'conduct water to said interior surface.

2. Device for recovering fumes comprising a refractorylined, tiltable converter wherein steel is blown with an oxygen-providing gas, having an aperture in the top when in upright position for escape of said gases, a refractorylined duct spaced apart from said converter above said aperture and having an opening adapted to receive said fumes, a sealing ring disposed about said aperture, a second sealing ring disposed about said opening, a sealing device mounted independently of said converter and said duct comprising two semi-cylindrical sections extending across the space defined between said converter and said duct, said sections being mounted for substantially horizontal movement into and out of sealing engagement with said converter and said duct, each said section comprising a semi-cylindrical wall having a recess in the interior surface thereof, conduits disposed within said wall adapted to provide flow of cooling water therethrough, horizontally extending semicircular ribs on the exterior surface of said wall, refractory lining disposed within said recess, said refractory lining being offset outwardly from said converter lining and said duct lining and being spaced apart from said converter lining and said duct lining thereby providing annular recesses therebetween, the upper and lower portions of said semicircular wall containing conduits having ports therein debouching into said annular recesses and adapted to conduct-water to said recesses, and means to retract said semicylindrical section from sealing engagement with said rings.

3. The combination of a vessel having an aperture through which gases generated therein are discharged, a duct having an opening spaced from said vessel and adapted to receive the gases discharged from said aperture, a sealing device mounted independently of said vessel and said duct comprising a plurality of mating segments extending across the space defined between said vessel and said duct, said segments being mounted for substantially linear movement into and out of sealing engagement with said vessel and said duct, whereby a substantially gas-tight passage is provided to conduct discharged gases from said vessel to said duct out of contact with air during sealing engagement, and whereby said vessel may be loaded and unloaded during disengagement of said sealing device.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said vessel has a sealing ring surrounding said aperture, and wherein said duct has a second sealing ring surrounding said opening.

S. The combination of a vessel having an aperture through which gases generated therein are discharged, a sealing ring surrounding said aperture, a duct spaced apart from said vessel having an opening adjacent said aperture and adapted to receive the gases discharged from said aperture, a second sealing ring surrounding said duct opening, a sealing device mounted independently of said vessel and said duct comprising a plurality of mating segments extending across the space'defined between said vessel and said duct, said segments being mounted for substantially linear movement into and outof sealing engagement with said vessel and said duct, whereby the lower edge of said sealing device engages said first-mentioned sealing ring and the upper edge of said sealing device engages said second sealing ring during sealing engagement providing a substantially gas-tight passage to conduct discharged gases from said vessel to said duct out of contact with air, and whereby said vessel may be loaded'and unloaded during disengagement of said sealing device.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sealing device comprises a plurality of mating arcuate segments.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sealing device comprises a plurality of mating segments of a cylinder.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sealing device is comprised of two semi-cylindrical segments.

9. The combination of a tiltable refractory-lined converter wherein hot gases are generated, having an aperture in the top when in upright position for discharge of said gases, a refractory-lined duct spaced apart from said converter above said aperture and having an opening adapted to receive said gases, a sealing ring surrounding said aperture, a second sealing ring surrounding said duct opening, a sealing device mounted independently of said converter and said duct comprising a plurality of mating segments of a cylinder extending across the space defined between said converter and said duct, said segments being mounted for substantially linear horizontal movement into and out of sealing engagement with said converter and said duct, whereby the lower edge of said sealing device engages said first-mentioned sealing ring and the upper edge of said sealing device engages said second sealing ring during sealing engagement providing a substantially gas-tight passage to conduct discharged gases from said converter to said duct out of contact with air, and whereby said converter may be loaded and unloaded during disengagement of said sealing device.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sealing device comprises two semi-cylindrical sections, each of said sections comprising a semicylindrical wall having a refractory receiving recess on the inner face of said wall, refractory lining disposed within said recess, and conduits for flow of cooling water disposed within said wall.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sealing device comprises two semi-cylindrical sections, each of said sections comprising a semicylindrical wall, a refractory-receiving recess in the interior surface of said wall and refractory lining disposed within said recess, said last-mentioned refractory lining being offset laterally outwardly with respect to the refractory linings of said converter and said duct and thereby providing greater space for flow of gases.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sealing device comprises two semi-cylindrical sections, each of said sections comprising a semi-cylindrical wall, a refractory-receiving recess in the interior surface of said wall and refractory lining disposed within said recess, said last mentioned refractory lining being offset laterally outwardly with respect to the refractory linings of said converter and said duct and thereby providing greater space for flow of gases, and said last-mentioned refractory lining being of lesser height than said semi-cylindrical walls, thereby providing annular passages between said lastmentioned linings and said linings of said converter and said duct.

13. The combination of claim 9 which includes means on said segment mounting means operable to adjust said segments vertically to provide sealing engagement.

14. The combination of a tiltable converter wherein hot gases are generated, having an aperture in the top when in an upright position for discharge of gases, a duct spaced apart from said converter above said aperture and having an opening adapted to receive said gases, a sealing ring disposed about said aperture and a second sealing ring disposed about said opening, a sealing device the upper and lower edges of said sealing device engaging said sealing rings being angularly disposed, the surfaces of said sealing rings engaging said sealing device also 'being angularly disposed in such a manner as to provide matching gas-tight surfaces during sealing engagement.

15. The combination of a converter wherein hot gases are generated having an aperture for discharge of said gases, a refractory lined duct spaced apart from said 'converter adjacent said aperture and having an opening adapted to receive said gases, a sealing ring surrounding said aperture, a second sealing ring surrounding said duct opening, a sealing device mounted independently of said vessel and said duct comprising two semi-cylindrical sections extending across the space defined between said vessel and said duct, said sections being mounted for substantially linear movement into and out of sealing engagement with said vessel and said duct, each of said sections comprising a semi-cylindrical wall having a refractory-receiving recess on the inner face of said wall, refractory lining disposed within said recess, and a plurality of conduits disposed in the upper portion and in the lower portion of each said semi-cylindrical wall and having ports therein debouching at the interior surface of said wall and adapted to conduct water to said interior surface.

16. In a device for recovery of gases including a vessel wherein hot gases are generated having an aperture for discharge of gases, a duct having an opening spaced apart from said vessel adapted to receive said gases, a sealing ring disposed about said aperture and a second sealing ring disposed about said opening, means for providing a gas-tight passage for said gases between said vessel and said duct which comprises a sealing device independently mounted of said vessel and said duct composed of a plurality of mating segments of a cylinder extending across the space defined between said vessel and said duct, said segments being mounted for substantially linear movement into and out of sealing engagement with said sealing rings of said vessel and said duct.

17. The means of claim 16 wherein said sealing device comprises two semi-cylindrical sections, each of said sections comprising a semi-cylindrical wall having a refractory-receiving recess on the inner face of said wall, a refractory lining disposed within said recess, conduits for flow of cooling water disposed within said wall, and horizontally extending ribs exteriorly of said semi-cylindrical walls.

References Cited .hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,335 11/68 Absterdam 26635 100,003 2/70 Bessemer 80 910,233 1/09 Roberts 26627 1,014,314 1/12 Marshall 263-44 1,415,183 5/22 Lund 7524 1,866,824 7/32 Sheridan 26636 2,258,850 10/41 Eulenstein 7552 2,345,502 3/44 Reece 26631 2,615,702 10/52 Allert 26311 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,597 7/21 France. 423,494 4/ 11 France.

1,303 10/77 Germany. 249,186 3/26 Great Britain. 507,936 6/39 Great Britain.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LEROY, RAY K. WINDHAM, Examiners. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR RECOVERY OF GASES INCLUDING A CONVERTER WHEREIN HOT GASES ARE GENERATED HAVING AN APERTURE FOR ESCAPE OF SAID GASES, A REFRACTORY-LINED DUCT SPACED APART FROM SAID CONVERTER ADJACENT SAID APERTURE AND HAVING AN OPENING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID GASES, A SEALING RING DISPOSED ABOUT SAID APERTURE AND A SECOND SEALING RING DISPOSED ABOUT SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR PROVIDING A GAS-TIGHT PASSAGE FOR SAID FUMES BETWEEN SAID VESSEL AND SAID DUCT IN SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID RINGS WHICH COMPRISES A CYLINDRICAL SEALING MEMBER COMPOSED OF TWO ABUTTING SEMI-CYLINDRICAL SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SEALING RINGS AND COMPRISING A SEMICYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING A REFRACTORY-RECEIVING RECESS ON THE INNER FACE OF SAID WALL, REFRACTORY LINING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS, AND A PLURALITY OF CONDUITS DISPOSED IN THE UPPER PORTION AND IN THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH SAID SEMI-CYLINDRICAL WALL AND HAVING PORTS THEREIN DEBOUCHING AT THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALL AND ADAPTED TO CONDUCT WATER TO SAID INTERIOR SURFACE. 